According to a report citing intelligence and military sources, Israel intermittently operated at least two covert bases deep inside Iraq’s western desert for more than a year — expanding on earlier reports that mentioned only one installation.
The alleged bases were reportedly used for intelligence gathering, drone operations, and long-range surveillance tied to Iranian weapons smuggling routes and activities of Iran-backed militias across Iraq and Syria.
The report claims the facilities were designed to provide Israel with operational reach closer to Iran’s western corridor and key proxy networks.
The revelation highlights how dramatically the regional battlefield has evolved since the outbreak of the wider regional conflict. Iraq — long seen as an arena dominated by Iranian influence — is increasingly becoming a contested intelligence and operational zone involving Israel, Iran, the US, and multiple militia groups.